The Ultimate Grand Canyon Trek

CHOP WOOD, CARRY WATER

WITH RYAN HALL

Throughout his entire career, Ryan Hall has lived by one mantra: "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water." Even as he continued to notch up awards, medals, and Olympic visits, the fastest U.S. marathoner and half-marathoner in history continued to return to the same Zen proverb.

Ryan knew he wanted to live the proverb he's sworn by in real life by pushing himself to the limit. That's why he designed the ultimate challenge: split a cord of wood before taking two 62lb water jugs down into the Grand Canyon and farmers' carrying them back up to the rim - over 5,000 feet of elevation gain.

A never-before attempted challenge is never easy - but that didn't stop Ryan from giving it his all.

"Words cannot describe the suffering I experienced on the water jug haul back to the rim of the canyon as muscle after muscle gave out and my lungs struggled to gain the necessary oxygen to sufficiently oxygenate my muscles."